Filter-press.



No, 'if/2,412. PATBNTED 00T. 18. 1904.

- J. W. NEILL.

FILTER PRESS. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1902.

NOMODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 18,1904;

PATENT CEEICE. -i

JAMES W. NEILL, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

FILTER-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 772,472, dated October 18, 1904.

Applicationfiled September 13, 1902. Serial No. 123,272. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may oon/cern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. NEILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State vof Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eilter-Presses, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to filter-presses designed to separate the liquid from a mass of liquid and solid material,which may be termed the pulp The invention is designed more particularly for theY purpose of providing a reliable, economical, and readily-operated filter-press adapted for use in metallurgical operations, although it is also valuable for use inother arts wherein filtering operations are conducted.

Filter presses as ordinarily constructed `consist of a bundle or stack of platesmade up into a series in which the solid plates covered with filtering-cloths or other filtering medium alternate with open spaces which are to hold the solid portion of the` material, while the liquid portion passes through the filteringcloth and out of the press through suitablylocated openings. In this construction the bundle of plates is alternately filled and emptied and each plate rhas to be moved twice and more often four times in the operation. Hence there is much manual labor and time lost. Moreover, the presses are very heavy for their capacity and do not give clean products, nor do they always permit of washing the material in the press as well as they should.

My present invention consists in the novel vconstruction of filter-press comprising, substantially, a cylinder which recelves the mayterial clamped between them.

Inf the preferred manner oficarryingout' my invention the lower face of the plunger C andI the upper face of -the plate E are both The accompanying drawing shows in vertical central section a form of apparatus embodying my invention.

B indicates a suitable cylinder containing a plunger C and preferably arranged in upright position, as shown, and adapted to reciprocate vertically in a suitable guide or frame E is a suitable base-plate which ,closes the lower end of the cylinder during the operation of expelling the liquid from the pulp.

The lower edge of the cylinder is preferably provided or constructed with a wide flat surface adapted to form a good liquid-tight joint between saidv edge and the plate E- o r the maitted with a suitableflter plate or medium,

(indicated atjF.) vThe filter-plate F in bothinstances may be composed of perforated lmetal and a woven or felted material of any desired degree of fineness and made of one or more'layers combined, as well understood in the art. Preferably a part of each of said plates consists of a plate of metal having` avvv large number of perforations and adapted to afford stilness and a suitable bearing for the fibrous material. art, wire-gauze ,may be used in. this part of the apparatus.

The filter-plate for the plunger C is preferi As well understood in the ably detachably lsecured to the lower face thereof by means of an outer plate of metal,

perforated, as indicated, and fastened by screws or otherwise near the edge of the plunger.

The plate F in the base E may rest in a depression therein, as shown, and the floor beneath the plate F is provided with any number of perforations or channels terminating in pipes V, provided, preferably,With suitable valves. Through thepipe or pipes V the ltered liquid may be carried away or washwater introduced.

The plunger C is also provided with one or more channels or openings communicating at the rear of the plunger with tubes to which are connected suitable flexible pipes T, made flexible so that the plunger may reciprocate IOO without interference from the pipe connections. These pipes may also be provided with suitable Valves, as indicated.

In the preferred construction of apparatus both the plunger and the base-plate are furnished with the filter-plate F and channels or connections for carrying olf the filtrate. It would be, however, within my invention to furnish one of them alone with such channels and connections.

The plunger C may be reciprocated by any desired means, preferably bya piston A, conneeted to the plunger-rod and working in a cylinder to which fluid under pressure may by the plunger C in any desired manner.

be supplied through a pipe or pipes, and valves for the purpose of lifting the plunger and, if desired, assisting the retrograde action of the same under the influence of a spring or weight and in obvious manner. The cylinder B may be reciprocated in a similar manner by one or more pistons D, connected with said cylinder by rods d.

The pipes T serve to withdraw the ltrate or to withdraw or introduce the wash-water or might even be used for introducing the material to be ltered. Ordinarily it is preferred to introduce the material into the cylinder through o ne or more ports Gr, in the side thereof, which communicate with flexible pipe S, one or more, adapted to permit free movement of the cylinder, said pipes leading from a suitable tank R, containing the pulp or material to be filtered.

rlhe passage of the material through pipe S is preferably controlled by means of an automatic valve actuated by the piston C when the latter is raised to the proper point. Preferably the valve for this purpose works on the inside of the cylinder and closes and opens the port G. Preferably, also, said valve consists of an interior cylinder or sleeve H, fitting the inside of cylinder B and adapted to uncover the port or ports G when it is actuated For this purpose the sleeve H may be caused to move vertically through engagement of the .plunger C with the lower edge of the sleeve. Normally the sleeve is supported by a iange at its upper edge, which engages the upper edge of cylinder B when said sleeve is permitted` by the plunger to drop under the action of gravity or a spring. It is obvious that the valve might be actuated by the plunger in other ways or be given a movement of a different kind in order to uncover the port G without departing from the invention.

It will be assumed in describing the operation of the apparatus that the pistons A and D are operated by air-pressure, although, as will be obvious, any liquid or Huid pressure might be employed. It will also be obvious that other mechanisms or devices might be the purpose of permitting the press-cake to be readily removed might be accomplished by moving either or both of them in the line parallel to the axis of the cylinder B.

O indicates a traveling belt or carrier comprising or embodying a iiltering medium-- such, for instance, as cloth. This belt is not necessary to the operation of the devices already described; but it is preferred to employ it, since it aids in moving the press-cake to one side and may also assist when made of proper material in forming a good liquid-tight joint between the lower edge of cylinder B and the base E.

Belt O is preferably an endless belt of some woven fabric and travels beneath the open end of cylinder B and between the same and the base E.

When the belt O is used, it is obvious that the filter-plate F may be so constructed as to have only or mainly the function of sustaining the filter-cloth, while at the same time allowing the liquid to pass.

Belt O passes by preference over suitable drums L, by which it may be operated, and through a wash-tank P, by which it may be cleansed, so as to always present a new clean section for each operation of the press.

Belt O may obviously serve as a carrier to convey the press-cakes to a suitable car or hopper, as indicated, by which they may be removed to any desired place.

The operation of the apparatus is as 'follows: The' pistons are at about the bottom of their stroke, and the space between piston C and the base is supposed to be iilled by a cake of pressed material from which the liquid has been expelled and allowed to pass olf through either the pipes at the bottom of the press in the base or through one er both of the pipes in the plunger, or both. If itis desired to wash the press-calze, clear water can be introduced through one of the pipes inthe base and one in the plunger, or either or both. The plunger can be raised at the same time and this water expelled through the cake, or the plunger can be allowed to remain stationary and the washing effected by merely circulating the water, or both methods can be used. In this case one of the pipes leading from the plunger and base or one section of the several pipes so connected would be so arranged that it only conveys the wash-waters either to or from the press and does not carry the solutions at any time. This is readily arranged. In the cycle of operations therefore, the cake now being' washed, the next thing is to get the pressed cake out of the press. To this end the outside cylinder, in which the plunger operates, is now moved vertically within the guides N N by the air admitted to the cylinders containing pistons D D, so as to raise the cylinder from employed for reciprocating plunger C and i the base and relieve the pressure from the filtering-cloth belt, on which 1t has heretofore rested and with which (being under pressure cylinder B and that the reciprocation of the cylinder B with reference to the base E for IOO fromthe-air on the upper side of the pistons `which will scrub the belt-surface.

leaves the sides'of the press-cake exposed; but it is. stillheld in place by the plunger, which still rests on it. This is therefore also lifted, so as to leave the press-cake entirely free The cloth is then readily loosened from the base, so that it will slip along without tearing,

,and it is then moved alongthe distance occupied by one press-cake or so far as toallow the cylinder to be replaced on the cloth in position for a fresh charge. In' the cycle of op- 'erations this movement of the belt filter-cloth will bri-ng the press-cakes over the end of the base and allow these cakes to fall into cars or other suitable conveyers which will .remove them, and the belt passing farther in its travel will pass through a box or trough containing water and, if needed or advisable, also brushes Thus when it again comes to the filter-press it will have a clean fresh surface capable of the best filtering-'speed and likely to give the clearest solutions fromthe next move of the press. Further, lthe facel of the plunger being exposed at each stroke the filtering medium can also be carefully watched and any repairs or cleaning needed can at once be carried out, thus always preserving the filtering' capacity of the press. The press having been left with both the plungers raised slightly to allow the forward passage of the press-cake and the cylinder also raised for the same purpose,.the next move yof the cycle will be to place the press in position for the receipt of the next charge and for its pressing. The cylinder is first carefully lowered, getting a smooth tight joint around the edge onto the filtering-cloth belt.v This, ifneeded, can be tightened by pressure on the upper side of the pistons D D. The plunger is then slowly raised by airpressure on its lower side. fkAs soon as the top of the plunger touches the sleeve-ring l valve H H, this being movable with the plunger, rises with it and soon opens wide the holes in the side of the press Gr G, which are connected by the rubber hose to the supply tank or tanks. Through these lholes the cylinder is promptly and quickly filled as soon as the plunger clears the port. `1 The air is then turned off fromv the bottom of the aircylinder (or the motion ofthe togglejoint press is reversed) and the cylinder starts to descend of its own weight. This may be accelerated by turning air on the top of the airpiston. So long as the loose sleeve-cylinder valve H H is above the bottom of, the holes Gr G there will be no pressure on the material beyond that of the pressure from the tanks; but all surplus material or pulp admitted to. the cylinder will be pressed out again into theV pipe and tank whence it came. As soon as the plunger is lowered sufciently to close the holes G G the pressure on the filtering-cloths will commence to increase and the liquids must iiow out through the cloth, thence through the channels provided for'itfin either the plunger or the base-plates, or both, as preferred. The rentrance of the pressed-out liquid into the press will be prevented by suitable checkvalves in the plunger-head or in the pipes, or both. plunger a new press-cake has been made, which is again to be washed, as before, and then discharged. The cycle of operation is then to be reproduced. v It is obvious that this operation vis very simple, that the necessary operations of the machine may be regulated by the valves conveniently set at the hand of one operator,

and that, further, one man shouldrbe able to fill, press, wash, discharge, and reset the-press without leaving his first position. This operation may be rapidly carried out, and the press will have large capacity with small weight and small space occupied.

The operation will be cheaper, cleaner, and better than as' now carried on, and coarse materials which now will not pass the openings into the multitude of plates constituting an ordinary filter-press will drop through the large openings G Gr of this press without hindrance and be mixed with the pulp and slimes of the cake without trouble or friction. In this way it will be possible to filter-press sands and slimes together, and thus make possible the washing of materials which cannot now be washed at all. For instance, it is now the practice in the metallurgy of many ores to separate the sand from-the slime after the crushing operation, then to treat the sands which may readily be washed by some simple method, while the slimes are pressed into cakes and an attempt to wash them in the press is made. With this new press it will be possible and beneficial tothe whole operation of the process to handle the whole mass together, as by this means the sands will make the presscakes more permeable to the washing medium and the resulting cakes will be cleaner than possible by any other method.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In a filter-press, the combination of a cylinder adapted to contain the material to be filtered, a plunger working therein, means for reciprocating the plunger, means for reciprocating the cylinder, a valve controlling the passage of the material to be filtered to the interior of the cylinder andmeans actuated by the plunger for opening and closing said valve.

2. In a lter-press, the combination with a cylinder .provided with an opening in its side for forming a port through which the material to be filtered is delivered, means for reciprocating the cylinder, a slide-valve working within the cylinder and adapted to control said port, a plunger working in the cylinder and actuating said valve, and means-for reciprocating the said plunger. 3. In a filter-press, the combination with a cylinder having an opening in its side consti- With the end of the stroke of the IOO IIO

tuting a port for `admission of the material to be filtered, means for reciprocating the cylinder, a plunger reciprocating in said cylinder, means for reciprocating the said plunger, and an axially-reciprocating slide-valve control- Y ling said port and actuated by said plunger.

4r. In a filter-press, the combination With the press-cylinder, of a plunger working in said cylinder, means for reciprocating the plunger, means for reciprocating the cylinder, a cylindrical Valve fitting into the top of the presscylinder, and a port in the side of said cylinder normally closed by said Valve but adapted to be opened when the plunger on its back stroke operates said valve.

5. In a filter-press, the combination of a press-cylinder having an opening in its side for introduction oi'tluid material, a base adapted to close the end of said cylinder and to forni also a support for a filtering plate or medium, means for reciprocating the cylinder axially, a perforated plunger Working in said cylinder, and communicating at its rear with suitable flexible pipes T, means for reciprocating the plunger and a filtering plate or medium borne by said plunger.

6. In a filter-press, the combination with a base-plate, of a cylinder, a plunger Working therein, a piston connected with said plunger, one or more pistons connected to the cylinder, and means for applying Huid-pressure to said pistons to reciprocate the plunger and cylinder independently of one another.

7. In a filter-press, the combination oi a plunger provided With one or more channels or openings through which liquid may pass, a cylinder having an opening in its side, a channeled base-plate adapted to support the press-cake and provided with a seat which rcceires the edge of the cylinder to form a tight joint about the perimeter thereof, means for reciprocating said plunger, a iilter-plate carried by t'he plunger, a valve controlling the passage of liquid or fluid through the opening in the side of the cylinder to the space beneath the plunger, and pipes connecting with the channels in the base-plate and with the openings at the rear of the plunger, as and for the purpose described.

Signed at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, this 23d day of August, A. D. 1902.

JAMES W. NEILL.

Witnesses:

J. B. THOMPSON, FRANK Cnocnnn. 

